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Borthwick credits Eddie Jones

Steve Borthwick has praised the influence of Eddie Jones on his career as an up-and-coming coach.

The former England international's rise has made him a candidate to be named among Warren Gatland's coaching staff for the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand in 2017.

Borthwick was recruited by Jones when he took the England reins after working with him in Japan.

"I have definitely benefited from working under Eddie Jones, who has been phenomenal for me as a young coach developing," Borthwick said.

"I have an awful lot to learn, but I feel very fortunate that I've got a head coach like him and some excellent assistant coaches that I work with."

Borthwick's influence on the pack has been praised by England prop Mako Vunipola, a former Saracens team-mate.

"Steve was a great coach when he was still playing. It was like having your forwards coach out there with you. It made it very easy for us as players and it is the same now that he is coach. That detail makes it very easy to understand," he said.

"He picks up on anything. From my job as a lifter, you think you have a great lift but he will pick up on where your feet are positioned.

"Even the smallest things make a massive difference for him. He is all about getting the basics right first and the rest will come along with it."